When Did You First Realize Your Family Was Toxic And Negatively Affecting Your Mental Health?

If there's one topic that can be incredibly hard to discuss, it's family. While there's no such thing as a "perfect family," it can be difficult to admit when your family (or a certain family member) is, in fact, toxic.

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After all, every relative is doing the best with what they know and not everyone has access to mental health resources; however, sometimes, there are some families or family members who continue to engage in negative behaviors that impact others in a disruptive way, even after when you try to discuss things with them — which can feel incredibly heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time.

So, with that in mind, when did you realize that your family was toxic, and how did you handle it?

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For me, for example, I realized certain family members were toxic for my mental health when they shamed me for being open about my mental health or would gaslight me during certain important conversations.

However, maybe there was a time your cousin ignored a boundary you set after already telling them why that boundary is important to you, and they played "victim" to the situation.

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Or maybe your mom or sister became incredibly codependent on you and expected you to drop everything to do what they wanted and didn't acknowledge your own needs and wants.

On the other hand, perhaps your whole family unit never supported you, constantly put you down, and criticized every decision you've made, and it crushed your self-esteem.

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Also, after when you realized they were toxic, what did you do? Did you set new boundaries, have even more discussions, or simply cut certain family members out of your life? And how did your family respond or what did they do after you made this certain choice?

Plus, how did this realization make you feel? And do you wish there were certain things that went differently?

Whatever the situation or reason may be, let us know when you realized your family or family member was toxic and how you handled it below. If you'd prefer to stay anonymous, you can fill out this Google form instead.

Some of the responses will be featured in a BuzzFeed Community post.